A16-147 One of the Hudson Transport versions used initially to equip 38 Squadon.
by Steve Mackenzie
I intend to run a series of articles looking at the Douglas DC-3/C-47 transports use in RAAF/ADAT service during 1939-46. After some thought I have decided the best way to approach such a large subject is to look at each user unit in turn (in numerical order to simplify things) with images of some of their airframes. No profiles as that involves a lot of extra work for an airframe type that I will later probably have no more use for.
No. 38 Squadron was formed as a transport unit at RAAF Base Richmond near Sydney on 15 September 1943. Equipped with Lockheed Hudsons, the squadron conducted its first operation on 17 December, when one of its aircraft flew from Richmond to RAAF Base Darwin.During the period No. 38 Squadron was equipped with Hudsons, it operated only within Australia.
The squadron's activities expanded in early 1944, when its obsolescent Hudsons were replaced with more capable Douglas Dakota transports. It received its first Dakota on 3 March 1944, and was completely equipped with the type by the end of May. While the squadron continued to fly to locations within Australia after receiving Dakotas, it also began transporting supplies to Allied forces fighting the Japanese in western New Guinea. During return flights from New Guinea, the Dakotas typically carried wounded personnel to Australia for treatment. In October 1944, No. 38 Squadron was given the additional task of supporting the RAAF's Paratroop Training Unit at Richmond (taking over from the DC-2 flight of 36 Sqn).
The squadron moved to RAAF Station Archerfield near Brisbane in early December 1944, but continued to maintain a detachment at Richmond. By this time No. 38 Squadron was mainly tasked with transporting supplies to the battle zone in New Guinea, which included making supply drops to Australian Army units in the field and evacuating casualties to the mainland. From 17 July 1945, the squadron maintained a detachment at Morotai Island, dropping supplies to Army units fighting in Borneo. No. 38 Squadron's only loss during World War II was a Dakota that crashed on a mountain in western New Guinea while flying between Biak and Morotai; the wreckage of this aircraft was not located until 1970.
After the war, No. 38 Squadron flew into Singapore, Bangkok and locations in Borneo to evacuate released Australian prisoners of war. The squadron also transported other service personnel back to Australia until 1946 as part of the demobilisation of the Australian military. During May 1946, three of No. 38 Squadron's Dakotas were assigned the unusual task of flying 25 tonnes of pig bristles from Chungking (the Nationalist capital which had been isolated by Communist forces) in China to Hong Kong, from where the bristles were shipped to Australia. This mission, which was designated "Operation Pig Bristle", took two weeks and sought to rectify a shortage of paint brushes that was hindering the Australian construction industry.
38 Sqn marked their airframes with PK-x codes in Sky Blue on camouflaged airframes or Black on Nat Metal airframes. Serials were in the usual Light Grey on the rear fuselage (Black on Nat Metal). The 'VHxxx' radio call signs were applied in their usual position above the fin flash (or sometimes on the rudder). They could be variously in Light Grey, White, Black (on Nat Metal airframes) or even Sky Blue. They could also be with or without a dash after the 'VH' (in theory there should be no dash, but there were many, many exceptions as we have seen thru this series). Late war airframes often had the 'last two' of the radio call sign repeated on the nose.
.
 a65-68.jpg |
 a65-78.jpg |
 a65-79 a.jpg |
 a65-79 b.jpg |
 a65-79 c.jpg |
 a65-91 a.jpg |
 a65-91 b.jpg |
A65-68 VH-CUY RAAF Auster 3 being unloaded at Labuan, Borneo 1945 AWM Photo OG3189.
A65-78 VH-CIU PK-P of 38 Squadron RAAF. Typical Nat Metal scheme.
A65-79 VH-CIV PK-R 38 Sqn Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. 1945-09-18. A truck load of ex internees approaching the C-47 for repatriation to Australia. a
A65-79 VH-CIV PK-R 38 Sqn Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. 1945-09-18. A truck load of ex internees approaching the C-47 for repatriation to Australia. b
A65-79 VH-CIV PK-R 38 Sqn Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. An ADF Ambulance delivering cases for repatriation to home. c
A65-91 VH-RFH PK-Q was another 38 Sqn Nat Metal C-47 in WW2. a
A65-91 VH-RFH PK-Q was another 38 Sqn Nat Metal C-47 in WW2. b
Post WW.II 38 Sqn operated Dakotas, Caribous and Beech King Airs till it's disbandment in late 2018 when it was amalgamated with 32 Sqn after 75 continous years of service. WW.II history text adapted from the public domain 38 Sqn entry on Wikipedia.
Use the index button to return to the main issue 36/1 index.
